Cop dies as gun goes off accidentally

An operation to catch a wanted criminal went tragic on Wednesday morning when a Delhi police special cell constable died of a bullet injury when he lost balance and his AK-47 rifle went off accidentally in outer Delhi’s Rohini on Wednesday. The bullet reportedly hit his chin.

According to the police, the constable, identified as Anand Khatri (32), was posted in the southern range of the police’s anti-terrorist unit around three months ago.

“It was a case of accidental firing. The official was rushed to a hospital, but his life could not be saved,” said special commissioner of police (special cell) Arvind Deep.

According to the police, the incident took place around 5.30 am when a special cell team went to a single-storey building in Rohini’s Sector 21, following a tip-off that a wanted criminal, Ashok alias Sonu Pandit, and his associates were hiding there.

Sonu (30), who is allegedly associated with southwest Delhi-based gangster Manjit Mahal and history-sheeter Ravinder Bholu, was wanted in connection with nine criminal cases — including murder, extortion and robberies — across Delhi-NCR and the Delhi police had announced an reward of '20,000 on his arrest.

Sonu was being tracked for around the past two months by a team led by two inspectors Tilak Chand Bisht and Rajesh under the supervision of ACP (special cell) Sandeep Byala. The raid to nab Sonu was conducted by the special cell team with the help of the local police from the Begumpur police station.

Once the team reached the single-storey house in which Sonu had holed up, they realised that he was hiding at the terrace, while his associates had fled, the police said.

The local police was asked to surround the entire house and officials of the special cell team, including Khatri, climbed the terrace, said the police.

Sonu was nabbed from there and as the police team was in the process of bringing him down from the terrace, which had no permanent stairs, Khatri lost his balance and fell. “In such operations, the guns are always cocked to ensure spontaneity. It was by the impact of the fall that the AK 47 went off and the bullet hit him,” said a senior police officer, adding, “By the time the other team members heard the gun fire and looked towards Khatri, they saw him falling down from the terrace.” Khatri was rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the official said.

When a crime team was sent to the spot to collect evidences in connection with the case, bloodstains were found in the terrace, said the official.

From preliminary investigation, it seems that Khatri tripped over while he was supervising his teammates who were getting Sonu down the terrace. He fell from the terrace after receiving the bullet injury, the official said. “Anand Khatri had joined the police in the year 2007 and had undergone commando course. He had also played a pivotal role in the recent operations due to his extra ordinary skills and valour,” Mr Deep added.